Postgame coverage
Game story: Iowa finds a spark with Brendan Sullivan in a rout over his former team
Hlas column: Kirk Ferentz changed QBs, really! Hawkeyes then changed the game, crushed the ‘Cats
Game Report: Numbers and notes from the Hawkeyes' win
Reaction: Kirk Ferentz says QB change to Brendan Sullivan was not ‘demotion’ for Cade McNamara
Video: Iowa football postgame interviews
Photos: Scenes from the Hawkeyes' win
.Final: Iowa 40, Northwestern 14
The Brendan Sullivan-led Iowa Hawkeyes (5-3, 3-2) cruised past Northwestern (3-5, 1-4) in a 40-14 homecoming win Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.
The ex-Northwestern quarterback Sullivan, after taking over Iowa’s quarterback duties early in the second quarter, went 9-of-14 for 79 passing yards. He also scrambled for 41 yards on eight attempts.
That included a 6-yard rushing touchdown and a 3-yard run to convert a fourth-and-1.
The Tim Lester-coordinated Iowa offense had the benefit of Kaleb Johnson’s explosive runs as well. Johnson ran for touchdowns of 25, 26 and 41 yards — his 14th, 15th and 16th rushing touchdowns of the season.
The Hawkeyes got a scoring boost from the special teams unit, as Kaden Wetjen returned a Northwestern punt 85 yards for a touchdown. It was the Williamsburg native’s first touchdown as a Hawkeye.
The Hawkeyes have now scored 40-plus points in two of their last three games. After leading 12-7 at halftime, they scored 28 points in the third quarter alone — more points than they had in the last four games of the 2023 season combined.
On the other side of the ball, Iowa’s defense proved that the 468 yards it gave up a week ago in a 32-20 loss at Michigan State was an anomaly rather than the start of a trend.
The Hawkeyes held Northwestern to 163 total yards and only 3.2 per play. The Wildcats’ longest play was a 21-yard reception in the first quarter.
The Hawkeyes have won their last four games against Northwestern.
Touchdown Northwestern: Drew Wagner on a punt return
Two Hawkeyes met Drew Wagner when he caught Rhys Dakin's punt at the Northwestern 28. But Wagner slipped in between both of them and proceeded to run 72 yards to the end zone.
So both teams have punt-return touchdowns in this game, and Northwestern has 14 points without an offensive score.
Iowa 40, Northwestern 14 (6:39 4th)
That's a 72 yard punt return and touchdown for @NUFBFamily's Drew Wagner π#B1GFootball on @BigTenNetwork πΊ pic.twitter.com/A90Hg5e06C
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 26, 2024
Another takeaway for Iowa
Ryan Hilinski entered the game at quarterback for Northwestern and led the Wildcats to the Iowa 18. But he dropped the next snap and Iowa's Will Hubert recovered the fumble for the Wildcats' third turnover.
Iowa 40, Northwestern 7 (8:50 4th)
Touchdown Iowa: Putting a bow on an incredible third quarter
Kaleb Johnson needed only one play after Jay Higgins' interception to find the end zone for the third time with a 25-yard run.
Johnson is up to 109 yards rushing in the game on 14 carries.
The Hawkeyes have scored 28 unanswered points in the third quarter.
Iowa 40, Northwestern 7 (0:27 3rd)
Interception for Jay Higgins
Iowa linebacker Nick Jackson batted down Jack Lausch's third-and-11 pass and the ball fell right into the lap of fellow linebacker Jay Higgins for his third interception of the season.
The Iowa offense takes over at the Northwestern 25.
Iowa 33, Northwestern 7 (0:34 3rd)
That's an interception for @HawkeyeFootball π
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 26, 2024
Take a look at this grab from Jay Higgins to give Iowa possession.#B1GFootball on @BigTenNetwork πΊ pic.twitter.com/gw0m7a3Yn2
Touchdown Iowa: Kaleb Johnson makes sure Kirk Ferentz's decision pays off
Kirk Ferentz was consistent in the first half (as he usually is), choosing to punt in fourth-and-short situations from around midfield.
But this time, on fourth-and-1 from the Northwestern 44, he put the ball in the hands of Brendan Sullivan, who picked up the first down with a 3-yard run.
On the next play, Kaleb Johnson sprinted 41 yards to the end zone for his second touchdown run of the game.
It was an eight-play, 64-yard drive in all.
Iowa 33, Northwestern 7 (4:32 3rd)
Kaleb Johnson gets his second TD of the day as @HawkeyeFootball extends their lead π#B1GFootball on @BigTenNetwork πΊ pic.twitter.com/HUrPcAzmBc
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 26, 2024
Iowa WR Reece Vander Zee is on the sidelines with a boot on his right foot.
Touchdown Iowa: Kaden Wetjen's time to shine
You had to know Kaden Wetjen would break one at some point.
Iowa's standout returner brought back a Northwestern punt 85 yards for a touchdown and suddenly the Hawkeyes have a commanding three-score lead.
Iowa 26, Northwestern 7 (8:54 3rd)
HE'S GONEβΌοΈ
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 26, 2024
Kaden Wetjen returns it 8οΈβ£5οΈβ£ yards for the @HawkeyeFootball TD.#B1GFootball on @BigTenNetwork πΊ pic.twitter.com/GJDJevZTV5
Touchdown Iowa: It's the Brendan Sullivan show
Brendan Sullivan started the second half for Iowa at quarterback and immediately led the Hawkeyes on a seven-play, 78-yard drive that he capped off with a 6-yard touchdown run.
Sullivan showed off his mobility in a different way the play before, lobbing a pass to tight end Johnny Pascuzzi, then outrunning his tight end to throw a block as part of a 40-yard gain.
Iowa 19, Northwestern 7 (11:18 3rd)
Brendan Sullivan just kept it for a TD against his old team π#B1GFootball on Big Ten Network πΊ pic.twitter.com/K3Hxja3PNC
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 26, 2024
Halftime: Iowa 12, Northwestern 7
Kaleb Johnson's 26-yard run in the final minute accounted for the only offensive touchdown of the half.
"You just have to stay with it and try to be patient," Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz told BTN.
Cade McNamara was 8-of-14 passing for 82 yards and a pick-6, after which he was replaced by Brendan Sullivan. Sullivan's numbers: 4-for-6 for 20 yards, plus 27 yards on the ground.
Asked if both quarterbacks will see the field in the second half, Ferentz told BTN "we'll see how it goes. We'll talk about it at halftime."
Touchdown Iowa: A Kaleb Johnson sighting
It had been a quiet first half for Iowa star running back Kaleb Johnson. No more. His 26-yard touchdown run gives the Hawkeyes the lead just before halftime.
Johnson found the hole, made multiple defenders miss and delivered a nasty stiff arm to find the end zone.
Northwestern had limited him to 4 yards on seven carries before that explosive play.
It was a five-play, 52-yard drive for the Hawkeyes, including a pair of completions for Brendan Sullivan.
Iowa 12, Northwestern 7 (0:39 2nd)
Kaleb Johnson doing what he does best π€·ββοΈ @HawkeyeFootball #B1GFootball on @BigTenNetwork πΊ pic.twitter.com/wkvQoe2eoh
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 26, 2024
Another chance before halftime for Iowa
Iowa used its three timeouts on another Northwestern three-and-out (the Wildcats, by the way, started their last four drives at their 6, 6, 6 and 5).
So the Hawkeyes have it at their 48 with another chance to take the lead before halftime.
Northwestern 7, Iowa 5 (1:22 2nd)
Iowa offense still can't take advantage of field position
Three straight three-and-outs with Brendan Sullivan in at QB, so the Iowa offense still is searching for answers.
Sullivan's third-and-3 pass went through the hands of Jacob Gill. Northwestern gets it back at its 5.
Iowa 7, Northwestern 5 (1:46 2nd)
Iowa doesn't score, but Northwestern punts
No points for the Iowa defense on this drive, but it did its job. Northwestern quickly went three-and-out and punted, giving the Iowa offense time to take the lead before halftime.
The Hawkeyes take over at their 45.
Northwestern 7, Iowa 5 (2:06 2nd)
Another Iowa three-and-out, another Rhys Dakin highlight
Brendan Sullivan stayed in at quarterback and scrambled for 5 yards on third-and-7, but the Hawkeyes punted on fourth-and-2 for the second straight drive, this time from their 45.
Last time Rhys Dakin pinned the Wildcats at the 6 and Iowa's defense recorded a safety. This Dakin punt went 49 yards to ... the Northwestern 6.
Northwestern 7, Iowa 5 (4:24 2nd)
Average starting field position so far:
Iowa: own 45
Northwestern: own 16
Safety, and a fiver for Iowa
Max Llewellyn brought down Northwestern quarterback Jack Lausch in the end zone for a safety on the Wildcats' first play of the drive.
Lausch was initially ruled down inside the 1, but the call was overturned after video review. Hawkeyes cut the lead in half and get the ball back.
Northwestern 7, Iowa 5 (6:44 2nd)
Iowa punts in Northwestern territory
Kaden Wetjen gave Iowa good field position at its 45 with a 25-yard kick return. Brendan Sullivan's first drive at quarterback involved a 3-yard scramble and a 2-yard completion to Seth Anderson.
The Hawkeyes chose to punt on fourth-and-2 from the Northwestern 47. More boos.
Northwestern takes over at its 6.
Northwestern 7, Iowa 3 (7:16 2nd)
Brendan Sullivan taking the field with the Iowa offense.
Touchdown Northwestern: Pick-6
Not only did Iowa QB Cade McNamara give Northwestern the ball right back, he gave the Wildcats the lead.
McNamara's pass went right to Northwestern's Theran Johnson, who returned it 85 yards for a touchdown.
Boos raining down at Kinnick, and not because of the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called on the Wildcats after the play.
Northwestern 7, Iowa 3 (9:31 2nd)
THERAN JOHNSON TO THE HOUSE βΌοΈ @NUFBFamily takes the lead over Iowa with this pick-6 π₯#B1GFootball on BTN πΊ pic.twitter.com/npzUtMi3TJ
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 26, 2024
Quinn Schulte with a takeaway
Iowa safety Quinn Schulte picked off Jack Lausch on second-and-4, stepping in front of his intended receiver to snag it and give the Hawkeyes good field position after an 8-yard return to the Northwestern 26.
Iowa 3, Northwestern 0 (11:09 2nd)
End 1st: Iowa 3, Northwestern 0
Cade McNamara got away with an interception when roughing the passer was called on Northwestern near the end of the first quarter.
Northwestern goes three-and-out
Jermari Harris tipped away Jack Lausch's third-and-7 pass and the Iowa defense is off the field much quicker.
Kaden Wetjen returned Luke Akers' 51-yard punt 12 yards to the Iowa 33.
Iowa 3, Northwestern 0 (4:32 1st)
Cade McNamara to Seth Anderson for 42 yards is his longest completion of the season.
Iowa is now 14-for-22 this season in touchdowns/red zone appearances.
Drew Stevens gives Iowa the lead
Iowa is on the board first with a 24-yard Drew Stevens field goal.
The Hawkeyes will have wanted to get in the end zone on a 10-play, 62-yard drive that reached the Northwestern 6, though.
Seth Anderson made a highlight play with a diving catch for a 42-yard gain to NU 21.
Iowa 3, Northwestern 0 (6:10 1st)
What a catch from @HawkeyeFootball's Seth Anderson π³#B1GFootball on BTN πΊ pic.twitter.com/zMJtLxpCx5
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) October 26, 2024
Northwestern misses a field goal on its first drive
Luke Akers missed a 50-yard field goal on fourth-and-2 on Northwestern's opening drive.
The Wildcats picked up 33 yards on a pair of passes but Ethan Hurkett helped blow up the drive by dropping A.J. Henning for a 7-yard loss on a reverse play.
Iowa starts at its 32.
Iowa 0, Northwestern 0 (10:57 1st)
Hawkeyes win the toss. They choose to defer. Northwestern will receive.
Iowa's Kyler Fisher, John Nestor out
Iowa football will be without linebacker Kyler Fisher and defensive back John Nestor for its game Saturday against Northwestern, according to the pregame availability report.
Offensive lineman Beau Stephens and tight end Addison Ostrenga, as expected, are also out.
Fisher is Iowa’s starting Leo linebacker. The second-team Leo on Iowa’s depth chart is former Cedar Rapids Xavier standout Jaxon Rexroth.
Defensive backs Sebastian Castro and Koen Entringer do not have any injury designations. Castro missed last week’s game with an ankle injury, and Entringer left the game with a hand injury. Both returned to practice this week.
Iowa (4-3, 2-2) vs. Northwestern (3-4, 1-3) predictions
Line: Iowa -13.5
Mike Hlas — Iowa 19, Northwestern 9
John Steppe — Iowa 20, Northwestern 9
Jeff Johnson — Iowa 17, Northwestern 10
Rob Gray — Iowa 17, Northwestern 6
Beth Malicki — Iowa 28, Northwestern 12
Todd Brommelkamp — Iowa 28, Northwestern 16
Iowa vs. Northwestern storylines
Must-read feature: Iowa’s Drew Stevens is reading books and kicking with conviction amid possibly the best season of his career
Analysis: 3 keys for the Hawkeyes, including playing fundamentally sound football
Scouting report: From a hazing scandal to a temporary stadium, Northwestern fights through it all
Fun Facts: 20 points about the Iowa vs. Northwestern matchup
Deep dive: How good does Iowa's defense need to be for the Hawkeyes to win?
How to watch Iowa vs. Northwestern
Kickoff time: 2:40 p.m. (CT)
TV channel: Big Ten Network
Live stream: FoxSports.com or Fox Sports app
TV announcers: Chris Vosters, Anthony Herron
Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network